About 100 artworks will be judged behind closed doors at the Forrester Art Gallery in Oamaru as part of the two-yearly North Otago Arts Society Awards.
The awards were first held at the Forrester Gallery in 1983, and gallery curator Alice Lake-Hammond said about 100 entries from around the South Island had been received.
''It's exciting to see the depth of skill and interest in the exhibition and the awards. The closed selection process will take place early next week, with the final judging taking place after the installation is complete,'' she said.
Because of the exhibition the gallery closed to the public yesterday but would reopen on Sunday, when the exhibition would open for public viewing, Ms Lake-Hammond said.
The exhibition would remain on display until November 18.
North Otago Art Society chairwoman Julia Sutherland said she was delighted with the number of entries for this year's exhibition.
It included a young artists' section, which would show works produced at a recent school holiday workshop held at the Forrester Gallery, she said.
''The biennial exhibition and awards offers Waitaki artists, both members and non-members of the North Otago Art Society, the opportunity to exhibit their works alongside artists from throughout the South Island,'' she said.
